I’ve
been away from Green Arrow for a while, so it’s a fresh perspective for me –
not one entirely favorable, I’m afraid. Oliver Queen continues to straddle the
line between privileged playboy and fighting for the underdog. It’s not
something other wealthy super-heroes like Bruce Wayne and Tony Stark have had
to do, so when Green Arrow becomes a constant crusader for the little guy, it
gets a little stale. Never-ending battle indeed.

My second
disappointment was some fo the awkward dialogue in this issue. I found myself
having to read balloons several time in order to fully comprehend what was
being said, and to put it in the voice of the character. It may not entirely be
the fault of the writers. I feel part of the job of the letterer is to present
the prose in such a way as to make it easily readable, the balloons and line
structure becoming a de facto form of punctuation. But maybe that’s just me.

And the
villain of the piece is a social justice warrior known as Citizen. As Green
Arrow and Black Canary continue their investigation, they discover Oliver Queen
has been framed for murder (I enjoy a good police procedural) by Citizen. But
what flummoxes me is how easily Oliver lets down his guard. Maybe it’s a trap
to be closed next issue, so I’m willing to keep an open mind.

I like the
artwork of German Peralta and John Kalisz. It’s consistent with the look of the
book established 46 issues ago, but if also fresh and different. I’ve found new
appreciation for colorists, who have historically gotten the short of the
stick. Their work has evolved from color by numbers of the Silver Age to become
a key element of conveying mood, atmosphere, and overall sense of place. Kudos
to Kalisz.